A dog uses his mouth for many things. Among these would be to eat, to communicate with us and other animals, to gnaw, crush, and grind things. He also uses it to carry food and objects from one place to another. Needless to say, the mouth has a very significant function in your dog’s life.

When you notice that your dog has bad breath, it could be a sign of a health problem that needs to be addressed right away.

Periodontal Disease

This is a condition brought about mostly by the accumulation of tartar in the mouth. It is a common disease that in fact, about 50-80% of dogs has it. Food particles left in the mouth after a meal will eventually decompose. As a result, bacteria will grow in numbers forming plaque and tartar.

When this happens, tartar will push the gums farther from the teeth, causing them to loosen as time passes by. Loosened teeth can expose root sockets, thereby infecting it. Infection then goes to the bloodstream, and then on to the liver, kidney, and eventually, the heart.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

The following are tell-tale signs of the disease:

1. Change in eating habits.

2. Pawing (at the mouth)

3. Excessive drooling

4. Tenderness in the mouth

5. Oral bleeding

6. Inflammation and swelling (face, particularly around the eyes)

7. Nasal discharge

8. Sneezing

9. Bad breath

Of all the common symptoms, the most obvious would be bad breath.

Treatment

Once you suspect your dog has periodontal disease, take him to the vet right away. He can clean your dog’s mouth and prescribe medication, possibly antibiotics.

Prevention

Food has something to do with it. Studies show that a diet consisting mostly of canned meals (soft food) is never a good idea. Experts agree that dry food has a lowered risk, in terms of getting this disease.

Another way to prevent periodontal disease is to have dental checkups once a year. You can also give your dog herbal supplements, of which Echinacea is the most recommended. This can be in the form of mouthwash or tea.

Brushing! Just like us, we can keep our dog’s mouth clean and healthy with regular brushing.

You have a role to play in ensuring your dog is in the best of health. Do not wait until such time when he is already suffering from problems in his liver, kidney, and heart. Keep his mouth and body healthy.

Read more about diabetes in dogs, how to care for a diabetic dog and conditions associated with diabetes in dogs at DiabetesInDogsGuide.Com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/bad-breath-in-dogs-what-causes-it-1498185.html

Wood chewing not only damages stables and fencing, it can also be bad for the horse’s health. Wood splinters can get stuck in the gums or teeth. If swallowed, the splinters can damage the stomach or intestines, or cause impaction colic. Fortunately, the habit of wood chewing is usually not difficult to correct and the short-term health risks are low in most cases.

The first step is to confirm that the problem is really wood chewing and not the more serious issue of cribbing. In wood chewing, the horse is nibbling on the wood. Cribbing is completely different; the horse does not eat the wood but instead grabs the wood with its front teeth, arches its neck and then sucks in air. As the two activities are very different, observation can confirm which problem your horse has. Alternatively, examination of the wood should show if it has been damaged by nibbling or damaged simply by a firm bite.

The most common cause of wood chewing is boredom. Horses which are left in their boxes most of the day with nothing to do simply do not have enough mental stimulation, so they start chewing on wood to occupy themselves. Another cause is stress or nervousness; just as some people chew their fingernails or pencils when they are stressed, a nervous horse confined to its box with nowhere to direct its nervous energy may start chewing on wood to distract itself. The third possible cause of wood chewing in nutritional deficiencies; if the horse’s food does not contain all the minerals they need they will start to chew on other items (such as wood or earth) in an attempt to obtain the missing minerals.

The first step in fixing the problem is to address the underlying cause. Since it is not always possible to know which of the three possible causes is the problem, the easiest solution is to address all three. Provide the horse with as much pasture time as possible, as this provides mental stimulation and also an outlet for nervous energy. Give it chewy food such as grass and hay, which will occupy it and meet its natural desire to chew better than fast foods such as grain or musli. Companion horses, exercise and an interesting environment all help. In case the problem is nutritional, ensure that it has good access to a salt lick and a mineral stone. Try to identify anything which may be causing the horse stress (e.g. bullying by another horse) and address the issue.

With the above steps, one should quickly see a reduction in wood chewing activity. Unfortunately, once a horse has been chewing wood for some time, it becomes a habit and continues even after the original cause is removed. Consequently, in addition to fixing the habit, one also needs to take steps to break the habit.

One stops the habit by making it unpleasant or impossible for the horse to chew wood. There are a number of products which are designed to taste terrible which one can paint onto wood surfaces, so the horse does not want to chew on them. For fencing, adding an electric fence wire (under current) to the top of the rails will keep the horse from chewing them. Within the stall, one can place metal strips onto the top of wood (e.g. on top of wooden stall doors).

It is important to do both these steps: address the cause and discourage the activity. If one treats the cause (e.g. boredom) but not the behavior (e.g. with unpleasant tasting paint) the habit may diminish but is unlikely to stop. Alternatively, treating the behavior (with unpleasant paint) but not the cause may stop the horse from chewing wood but the horse may then develop a different behavioral problem in response to the continuing underlying problem.

Doug Stewart is the author of Horses Wood Chewing, which is part of his Horse Care series of articles.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/wood-chewing-by-horses-1432695.html

Just as humans do, your dog may be in need of dog dental care. If your dog has typical bad doggie breath or if you notice a terrible smell when he breathes in your face, that may be a clue that your dog needs dental care.

It has only been recently that pet owners have been concerned with their pet’s dental health.  Now pet owners are learning it is important to keep their dog’s teeth and gums healthy. In the past it was believed that nature would take care of the dog’s teeth naturally. That may have been true in the wild where dogs ate raw meat and chewed the bones of their kills, but in today’s society where dogs are subjected to ‘people food’ and many treats, the health issue of your dog’s dental health is more of a concern. 

Commercial pet food companies have become aware of this problem and have introduced hard dog biscuits that help clean your dog’s teeth. Although that was only the beginning, it has since become well known that dogs may need help in the teeth cleaning and breath area.

Dog dental care is only one aspect of your overall pet’s health care. Dogs with healthy teeth and gums and healthy mouths, may tend to live longer and happier lives. Although having bad dental care may not necessarily decrease your pet’s overall life expectancy, it could cause him pain and discomfort and may even lead to him losing one or several teeth.  Having dental problems may also cause a serious infection in the mouth which in turn may lead to heart and kidney disease.

As in humans, a dog with a healthy mouth will have better smelling breath. Bad breath can be a sign that the dog may be having trouble in his mouth. Chances are that you may not even notice unless there is a really serious problem. A clue to your dog having trouble with his teeth may be if you find that he cannot chew on one side. This may be caused by him being in pain.  You may also notice that he isn’t eating because he is in so much pain. Both of these cases could be a sign that your dog has a toothache or some other kind of infection in his mouth.

Bad breath is caused by the plaque and tartar that builds up on your pet’s teeth. If the plaque and tartar are not removed from the teeth an infection in the mouth can occur. To avoid the bacteria that can cause gum disease in your dog, get your vet to remove the plaque and tarter that has been built up on your pet’s teeth.

Dogs can also get cavities in their teeth. Vets today have noted that there has been a rise in dog cavities, probably due to more of the sugary dog treats available on the market. Check the labels of the dog treats you buy to help reduce this threat. And, only feed your dog treats that are especially made for dogs.

If you are worried about your dog’s dental health, it is a good idea to brush your dog’s teeth regularly. Starting a dog dental care program when your pet is young should help to prevent dental health problems and will help solve the problem of getting your dog to submit to regular teeth brushing. It is a good idea to try to brush your dog’s teeth daily, but even brushing ever other day will help keep the plaque build-up under control.

You can get toothbrushes and toothpaste made especially for dogs. It is important to use toothpaste formulated especially for dogs because human toothpaste can upset your pet’s stomach. Also, toothpaste made for dogs will have a more pleasing flavor for him. Pet toothbrushes are softer than human ones, shaped slightly differently and are generally smaller. You can also use sponge cleaners instead of a toothbrush, which consist of small sponges attached to a handle. You can generally obtain these items through your veterinarian or at pet stores.

Another area of dental care for dogs includes crooked teeth.  You may find it necessary for some dogs to get braces on their teeth. Some dog breeds typically have problems in this area and need their teeth straightened enough so that their mouth opens and closes correctly. It may be necessary for your dog to get orthodontic work done on a few teeth or even have a full set of braces. Consult your vet if you feel this may be a problem area for your dog.

Dog dental care should be part of your dog’s regular health check-ups to discover any problems that may be occurring.  If your dog has poor dental health it can impact how he enjoys life, and even how long he lives.  Be pro-active and start your dog on a dental health routine early.

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